Integrated Management in Elderly
Goh Cheng Soon, Gerard Bodeker, Kishan Kariippanon in Healthy Ageing in Asia, 2022
Chinese medicine has a long history of thousands of years. The development of Chinese medicine is unlike western medicine. The experience was gained through the clinical practice which is treating diseases using syndrome differentiation according to the predecessors’ experience. This syndrome differentiation method is unique. Chinese medicine practitioners analyse a patient’s syndrome as yin or yang, deficiency or excess, cold or heat, external or internal from observation, olfaction, inquiry and pulse taking (including palpation), and give relevant treatment after the analysis. Comparatively, Chinese medicine attaches great importance to the holistic study of the human body. Symptoms would be treated first if the condition is urgent; when symptoms are relieved, regulating the body constitution (or curing the root cause) would be of utmost importance. Chinese herbs are made up of natural ingredients. Although the therapeutic effects are relatively slow, they have fewer side effects.
TCM safety and regulations
Raymond Cooper, Chun-Tao Che, Daniel Kam-Wah Mok, Charmaine Wing-Yee Tsang in Chinese and Botanical Medicines, 2017
The plants Aristolochia and Asarum were inadvertently used as part of a slimming treatment in the 1990s. The plants had been used effectively and safely for about 15 years without any problems. The slimming program included regular intake of a weight loss pill, which included these herbal components. For some reason in the summer of 1990, the formulation was changed with the introduction of two more Chinese herbs, Stephania tetrandra radix and Magnolia officinalis cortex. Traditionally, Stephania tetrandra radix is used as a “diuretic” while Magnolia officinalis cortex promotes the movement of qi and resolves stagnation and abdominal distention. They are not used for weight loss, and nor are they recommended for prolonged use, in accord with TCM practices. It was perhaps thought that adding these two herbs would reduce the retention of fluid and excess nutrition, and hence lead to weight loss. However, these new preparations led to a surge of incidents of patients being diagnosed with interstitial nephritis of unknown origin. Some patients were hospitalized and underwent dialysis. The coincidence of the introduction of these new herbs to the weight loss pill and the unusual increase in incidence of kidney damage strongly pointed to the introduction of these Chinese herbs into the formulation.
Role of Herbal Medicines During Pregnancy and Labor
Megh R. Goyal, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Ademola Olabode Ayeleso, T. Jesse Joel, Sujogya Kumar Panda in The Therapeutic Properties of Medicinal Plants, 2019
Lin-Yan Li et al., [28] assessed the embryotoxicity of four commonly used Chinese herbs in China during pregnancy: Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephala, Radix isatidis, Coptis chinensis, and Flos Genkwa. The herbs were studied using embryonic stem cell test (EST) and prediction models based on concentrations of compounds inhibiting the proliferation of 50% embryonic stem cells (ESCs; IC50ES), concentrations inhibiting 50% of 3T3 cells (IC503T3) and concentrations inhibiting differentiation of 50% ESCs (IC50ES). Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephala and Radix Isatidis did not show embryotoxicity, while Coptischinensis and Flos Genkwa showed weak embryotoxicity and strong embryotoxicity, respectively [28].
A network pharmacology approach to predict potential targets and mechanisms of “Ramulus Cinnamomi (cassiae) – Paeonia lactiflora” herb pair in the treatment of chronic pain with comorbid anxiety and depression
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2022
Hao-Tian Pan, Zi-Qi Xi, Xu-Qiang Wei, Ke Wang
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a treasure of China and has formed a unique and complete theoretical system different from Western medicine [8]. Chinese herbs have widely been applied to treat diseases with precise efficacy, relatively low toxicity and low-cost [9]. Ramulus Cinnamomi (Gui Zhi in Chinese)–Paeonia lactiflora (Shao Yao in Chinese) is a classic traditional Chinese herb pair, which can reconcile the camp and guard, clear heat and relieve pain, and warm meridians and dredge collaterals [10]. According to the theory of TCM, Gui Zhi belongs to yang, which can help the Wei Qi to resist external evil, warm the meridians and dredge collaterals to relieve pain; Shao Yao belongs to yin, which can nourish Ying Qi, clear heat and alleviate pain as well. Therefore, in TCM theory, this herb pair, the “Gui Zhi–Shao Yao” herb pair can also relieve hepatic stagnation without harming yin, which is beneficial to treat depressive/anxiety symptoms. However, the related mechanisms have not been completely elucidated.
An overview of drug discovery efforts for eczema: why is this itch so difficult to scratch?
Published in Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 2020
Kam Lun Hon, Steven Loo, Alexander K. C. Leung, Joyce T. S. Li, Vivian W. Y. Lee
Drug development for AD requires a multidisciplinary team effort including scientists, clinicians, frontline healthcare professionals, patients, caretakers, and government authorities. In addition, pre-clinical scientific work must continue to facilitate further drug development. Several novel medications are now available in the market. However, they are expensive and not curative. Parallel to new topical and systemic medications is the development of CAM. Usage of Chinese herbs is a popular strategy. The issue with herbal medicine is the lack of scientific research and the documentation of clinical efficacy versus adverse events. The development of big data analysis and the centralization of a nationwide database for better clinical evaluation and monitoring will improve the efficiency of care for patients with AD at a lower cost.
Impact of red yeast rice supplementation on lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials
Published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 2023
Parisa Rahmani, Ebru Melekoglu, Sogand Tavakoli, Nasser Malekpour Alamdari, Pejman Rohani, Mohammad Hassan Sohouli
Recently, Chinese herbs have been widely used as an alternative treatment. Red Yeast Rice (RYR), which has been used as an ancient herbal supplement in China, may serve as an option for the treatment of hyperlipidemia [14–16]. RYR is obtained by fermenting fungus Monascus purpureus on rice, which are contains lovastatin and several active components which is possible lipid blood-lowering effects [17,18]. RYR has been used as a staple food in many Asian, European, and even American countries since World War II [19]. This herbal medicine contains a family of natural statins or monocolins that have different effects on different types of cardiovascular risk factors such as lipid profiles by inhibiting the activity of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase [20].
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